Police and community briefs for Oct. 4, 2010

Sunday

Oct 3, 2010 at 9:05 PMOct 5, 2010 at 1:24 AM

Police and community briefs for Oct. 4, 2010

Staff and wire reports

Man, 61, struck on head in home invasionMarion County Sheriff's deputies are investigating an armed home invasion that took place late Saturday night in the 2600 block of Northeast 37th Place Road.Four male suspects allegedly forced their way into the home around 10:36 p.m., demanding cash from a 61-year-old male resident who opened the front door after hearing a knock.The man was reportedly struck on the head with a pistol several times before the suspects stole $150, searched the residence and then fled out the front entrance.The man's wife, 59, who was in the back master bedroom at the time, ran out the back door after hearing the commotion, heading to a neighbor's house to call 911. She was not injured.The suspects, dressed in black clothing and wearing black masks, are believed to be white males between the ages of 18 and 22. Anyone with information about this case can call the Sheriff's Office at 732-9111, Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP, or visit www.ocalacrimestoppers.com.

Police officer charged with shooting womanPARKER — A Panhandle area police officer has been charged with shooting his former girlfriend and dragging her body into the woods.Bay County Sheriff Frank McKeithen said 43-year-old Mark Alan Bomia was arrested Saturday night and charged with murdering Anna Beach. According to an arrest report, Bomia said he went to the victim's house to talk to her, and she attacked him. The News Herald reported Bomia admitted shooting Beach and removing her clothes and other evidence from the scene.Autopsy results are pending. Additional details are expected to be released at a press conference Monday.It's unclear if Bomia had legal counsel. An e-mail sent to the sheriff's office was not immediately returned Sunday.Authorities say pair fled after fatal crashLAKELAND — Two central Florida residents are behind bars after authorities say they fled the scene of a fatal car crash.Lakeland Police say Michael Rosales ran a red light early Sunday morning crashing into 22-year-old William Pennock's truck. Pennock was pronounced dead at the hospital.Witnesses said Rosales was driving without headlights and weaving on the road just before the crash. His girlfriend, Elizabeth Lauran Wallace, arrived after the crash, helped Rosales out of the truck and the two drove away.Police say the pair have been charged with vehicle homicide and leaving the scene of a crash with death.Additional charges may be filed.Man charged with beating gay bar patronWEST PALM BEACH — A south Florida man has been charged with beating a man during a bar fight because he was gay.John Richard Shannon was out with friends in West Palm Beach last month when he started arguing with another man he accused of being a homosexual. According to the police report, Shannon used several homophobic slurs and told the victim that a cast on his arm was because he had beaten up another homosexual.When the victim defended himself Shannon began screaming until he was kicked out. Police said he sneaked back in the bar and punched the man in the face with his cast.On Thursday, Shannon admitted he punched the man and may have uttered the homophobic slur.